Explanation

Languages (XWiki <17.8.0, <17.4.5, <16.10.12  called "Locales") are used in XWiki to support multilingual content that can be granted by your administrator. Languages allow the same Page to exist in multiple languages, while still being treated as one Page. Your administrator can also set the "Default Language" for the entire wiki. When working with languages , there are several key terms to understand:

• Page Language: this indicates the language of the version of the Page you are currently viewing.
  •  If you are looking at a translation, it shows the language of that translation.
  • If the Page you're viewing is not a translation, it shows the Page's default language.
• Default Language: shows the Page’s default Language.
  • This field is only shown if you are viewing a translation.
  • When multilingual is disabled, or when you are already viewing the Page in the Default Language, there is no distinction between the Page's "Language" and "Default Language", so this field doesn't appear.
• Translation: a Page can then be translated into other languages, each translation is stored separately, but XWiki keeps them linked together under the same Page reference.

For example, viewing a translation and viewing the Page under "Default Language":

When you change the "Language", the newly selected language will become the "Default Language", but the actual content stays in the previous language. This means the content is not converted automatically, you need to edit the Page and update it to match the new Language. The previous language becomes a translation that you need to create. 

Limitations

• The "Locale" field in the "Information" tab should refresh the UI after a change.
• XWiki <17.8.0, <17.4.5, <16.10.12  The "Locale" field in the "Information" tab allows selecting not only supported languages. 
• XWiki <17.8.0, <17.4.5, <16.10.12  The "Locale" field in the "Information" tab allows selecting a locale that has a translation. 

FAQ